Stuffing gland assembly for fluid filled cables



P. N. BOSWORTH Filed Feb. 21, 1951 sept. 1s, 1953 STUFFING GLAND ASSEMBLY FOR FLUID FILLED CABLES Invent-ort Patented Sept. 15, 1953 STUFFING `GrLAND ASSEMBLY FOR FILLED CABLES FLUID' PhillipsNrBosworth, Becket, Mass., assignor'to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application February 21, 1951', Serin No. 212,101 (o1. 174-19) l l c l v This invention relates to joints in and terminals for electrical cables of the type. employing a lluid insulating medium under pressureand more particularly to means for sealing the housings for the -joints orv terminals to the vouter sheaths or vjackets of the cables.

When the conductors of an electrical cable of the high-pressure fluid-filled type are joined to the conductors of a similar cable or are connected `tosome terminal device, such as a pothead, it is generally advantageous to' allow the uid insulating medium of thecable to surround the joint or terminal. This eliminates the need 'for costly barriersibetween the cable and the joint or terminal, such as would be necessary if the insulating medium used therein were different from thatv of the cable. For that reason the joint or terminal is ordinarily'enclosed in a fluid tight housing which is joined to-the fluid containing wall or sheath of the cable bya fluid tight seal. .For applications wherethe Iluid containing sheath -of the cable is formed of` lead, as is true in almost al1 Iluid-lled cables, the housing is usually sealed to the sheath by a wiped lead joint. In order that good service may be obtained from these wiped joints, it is necessary that they be protected from the damaging eiects of the atmosphere, and from mechanical stresses due both to the high internal Yfluid pressuresand to cable movements. Since most electrical cables of the fluid-lled type contain an outer sheath which surrounds the aforementioned lead sheath, an excellent way of protecting the wiped lead` joint is to encircle it with a casing whichis sealed at one end to the housing for the joint between conductors and is sealed at the other end -to the outer sheath of the cable. Where the outer sheath or jacket is also of lead, another wipedv joint can, of course, be used. However, such construction is not `feasible'where the outer sheath is non-metallic, such as a rubber or neoprene jacket. v l

It is an object, thereforeyof this invention-to provide new and improved means for sealing a joint .protecting casing to the outer sheath of an electrical cable vof the` high pressure, fluidyfilled type, which will be eii'ective even where the outer sheath or jacket is of a non-metallic material.y

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved stuiiing gland assembly for sealing a joint protecting casing to the vouter sheath of an electrical cable of the high pressure fluid-lilled type. v

i It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved stuing gland assembly which serves a reinforcing layer 2 both to mechanically support a'wiped jointvinthe inner sheath of a high pressure iluid-lled cable and also to seal a casingv for protecting the wiped joint to the outer sheath of the cable.

The Vs tufling gland assembly of this invention provides a seal between the joint protecting cas.-

ing or shell and the outer sheath of the cable by a combination of two separate seals. The casing is sealed to a substantially annular gland member, and the gland member is in turn sealed to the outer sheath of the cable. The seals are made by compressing gasket or packing material between the two members it is desired to seal together. The assembly is thereby applicable to any type of outer jacket which may be used on the cable.

For a better and more complete understanding of my invention, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, reference should now be had to theA following description and accompany.- ing drawing which is a longitudinal view in half section of a portion of a fluid-filled electrical cable together with a stuiling gland assembly embodying this invention.

In the drawing is illustrated one form of self,- contained fluid-filled cable with whose joints or terminals the stufling gland assembly of this invention may be advantageously employed. The cable contains a hollow core I around which are positioned the stranded electrical conductors 2. Conductors 2 are insulated by means of an insulating layer3, here formed of Wrapped paper tapes impregnated with an insulating compound, from an inner lead sheath 4. Although not shown in the drawing,` in certain cables of this -sort a layer of metal tapes is placed between the insulation layer and the inner lead sheath for shielding purposes. To add strength to sheath 4, wound of astrcng material, such as metallic tapes 5, is positioned around it. The reinforcing layer formed by tapes 5 is enclosed by an outerjacket or a sheath 6 of some resilient material, such `as for example a glass-neoprene composition. l

Adjacent the portion of the cable illustrated, a joint (not shown) is made between conductors 2 and theA conductors of a similar cable,'sheath 4 having been severed at point 4a and a portion of it removedto provide access to the conductors. Re.- inforcing tapes 5 were also severed adjacent point 4a, but -sheath B was severed and the severed portion removedlat a point 6a more remote from the joint.

Encircling the cable with its end nearest the joint (not shownl-v positioned ,overv the end of sheath 6 is a ferrule 1 made of a conducting material such as copper. The other end of ferrule 1 is provided with a radially extending ange 1a which contains a number of tapped holes 1b. Wrapped in two layers over a portion of ferrule 1 is the portion of reinforcing tapes which originally lay between points 4a and 6a. These layers are bound down by a number of turns of binding wire 8, thus clamping the end or termination of sheath 6 in place.

Ferrule 1 is firmly secured to a Aring member 9 by bolts I0, which are threaded into the tapped holes 1b. The periphery of ring member 9 is provided with threads and these threads are engaged with threads on the inner surface of a thickened portion IIb of a substantially cylindrically enclosing shell II, il. e. ring vmember 8 and shell II are in threaded engagement.

Enclosing shell I I extends toward the joint and is secured to the housing I2 for the joint by Bange and bolt means. A gasket I3 `'is inserted between the flanges of shell yI 'I and housing l2 to provide a fluid tight seal between the two.

Housing I2 has va tapered lsleeve portion Ila which in sloping toward the cable extends beyond point 4a where :sheath 4 ends. Placed between the end of sleeve 12a land sheath 4, so as to contact both, thereby supporting 'housing I2, is a ring I4 of substantially wedge shaped cross `section. Ring 'I4 and the end portion of sleeve I2a are both formed of 'a metal, such for example as lead or copper, to ywhichif it is properly `tinned, semi-,fluid lead will adhere upon solidication. Ring 'I4 serves as va base :for a wiped lead join-t 15, which forms Aa ud tight seal between lead sheath 4 and sleeve I2a of housing I2. 'Wiped joint 15 is structurally reinforced by binding wire 'I5 in `order that it may withstand `the high fluid pressure within the cable. '1f more retaining strength 'is required than that provided by `wire It, the space 'I1 enclosed by 'shell I"Iferrule 1, joint l5 and the 4associated 'binding l`wire 16, and sleeve 12a may be filled with cast solder through the plug I8 provided in enclosing shell vI I. Normally, "however, this `is not necessary. `The clamping of reinforcing tapes 5 to `ferru'le 1 also provides mechanical Aprotection Vfor ujoint I5 against high internal pressures and ca'ble movements.

Space I'I 'is lsealed at one end by Agasket I3 as "hereinbefore described 'and is lsealed at the other end f4by 'the tstuillng Igland Aassembly of this invention, the previously mentioned ferrule 1 Iand ringmember'9 being parts of the assembly. Ferrule Tand ring `member9,`however fdo `not `-pro- 4vide fany `seal in themselves.

The fluid tight seal at the end or :space I1 re- 'mote from housing I2 actually consists Iof two seals, one "being between shell lI I and an 'annular 'shaped `gland member I9 and the other being ,between gland `member I9 and outer lsheath i of 'the cable. Gland member I9 is -provided with threads along both its `outer vand firmer surfaces. The outer threads engage those of theinner sur- Aface 'of vshell II to place the two members in :threaded engagement. The end portion of the wall of 'shell "I I contains Aan 'inner circumferential vrecess IIa into which a ila-nge 'I-9a `provided -on glandmember I9 4extends `when shell II and the gland member I9 are threaded together. Gasket material is thereby ycompressed between the vwalls of recess IIa and flange i'I9a to `provide a fluid tight seal between shell I I and gland ymem- 44ber iI9.

A portion for the surface of gland member 1I:9

adjacent the cable is provided with a circumferential recess or packing cavity I9b. Threads are cut in the end portion of this recess to engage the threads provided on the outer surface of a ring shaped stufling nut 2|. Threading nut 2| and gland member I9 together force a spacer `ring 22 against packing material 52B "which is contained in the packing cavity of gland mem- -rnosphe by the .sealing off of space I1. It is important that tapes 5 be so protected as they are easily corroded in corrosive atmospheres with the presence of moisture. Satisfactory operation of the cable, of course, depends upon lthe permanence .of these reinforcing tapes.

' One preferred procedure of assembling the stuiiing gland assembly from its component parts, assuming that sheaths 4 and `6, and reinforcing tapes 5 have been severed as illustrated 1and described, that the rvarious `'members of the stuilmg gland assembly yand housing 'I2 and ring i4 have been passed `over the free end of fthe cable, `that the 'joint between the conductors has then been made, and that wiped joint I 5 :has 'been constructed and bound down by wires Il, 'is 'to first wind the free portion of reinforcing tapes 5 around 4ferruie l1 and bind them iflown with wires 4KII. Then gasket I3 is placed between the flanges lof `housing I2 and shell fll and the two members are pulled together @by some means, Vsuch as bolts, to Ycompress rgasket I3. Gasket 13 forms a fluid tight seal between the .two members. Ring 'member 9 is now Athreaded to vvshell Irl and turned `until "Sit makes firm contact with ferrule '1. Then bolts I0 are inserted to fferrule 1 to Iring Irmerx'lbver '9 and .thus lock ien-rule 1 `firmly `in place.

Next gasket vmaterial 20 :is inserted zintoxcir.- cumferential recess IIa and gland member I9 l.is `threaded to shell fI I. Member 19 is turned until vflange 49a compresses gasket material 2D `vide ra fluid `tight seal between the walls of recess I :Ia and flange 19a.

"To 'provide the third and final seal, first :gasket material 2B `and then spacer ring 122 `are inserted into packing cavity 19h. Stuffing nutuZII yis threaded `to vgland member TIB and turned -u-ntll vgasket vmateriallil -is `Iforced into fir-m :contact with sheath 6 and the walls of packing 'cavity Y19h to provide a -uid tight seal therebetween. Actually, if stuffrngnut 2-I 1is designed with aprojection Aextending `suillciently linto packing cavity Mb Ato Ycompress gasket material 23, the `need for spacer ring 22 is eliminated and it maybe omitted -f-rorn the construction. 'While there has been describedwhatlatpresert is considered `to be the preferred embodiment -of this invention, it will 'be obvious -to those Askilled in the art that various chang/es and modifications may be 'made then without departing from the invention, and it is, therefore, aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modications `as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What 1 `claim as new Iand desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. Tn combination with `a Vhousing for a joint 1in the conductors :of a iiiuid--iled electrical cable having a plurality of sheaths separated by reinforcing tape and having its outermost sheath terminated at a predetermined distance from the joint end of said conductors, astuiiing gland assembly comprising a ferrule including a nange encircling said cable adjacent to the termination f said outermost sheath; a portion of said tape normally extending beyond the joint end of said ferrule being bent back and laid onto the outer surface of said ferrule; a plurality of turns of Wire securing said bent back portion of said tape in tight fitting engagement with said ferrule; an enclosing shell extending from said housing oeyond said ferrule and having in its end portion opposite from said housing an inner circumferential recess; gasket material enclosed within said recess; a ring member encircling said cable and secured to said flange and in threaded, engagement with said shell; a gland member encircling said cable in threaded engagement with said shell and provided with a flange extending into said recess to compress said gasket material and having a recessed portion adjacent said cable to provide a packing cavity; gasket material partially filling said cavity; a stuing nut encircling said cable and being in threaded engagement with said gland member and projecting into said cavity to compress said gasket material contained therein; and means sealing said shell to said housing.

2. In combination with a joint for the conductors of a fluid-filled cable having an inner lead sheath, an outer sheath formed of resilient material, and reinforcing tape separating said sheaths with said outer resilient sheath being terminated a predetermined distance from the joint end of said lead sheath and said reinforcing tape, a sealing assembly comprising a housing for said conductor joint; a duid-tight wiped lead joint between said housing and said joint end of said lead sheath; and a stufling gland assembly comprising a ferrule including a flanged portion encircling said cable adjacent to the termination of said outer sheath, a portion of said tape normally extending beyond the joint end of said ierrule being bent back and laid onto the outer surface of said ferrule, a plurality of turns of wire securing said bent back portion of said tape in tight tting engagement with said ferrule, an enclosing shell extending from said housing beyond said ferrule and having in its end portion opposite from said housing an inner circumferential recess, gasket material enclosed Within said recess, a ring member encircling said cable and secured to said Flange and in threaded engagement with said shell, a gland member encircling said cable in threaded engagement with said shell and provided with a flange extending into said recess to compress said gasket material, said gland member further having a recessed portion adjacent said cable to provide a packing cavity, gasket material partially lling said cavity, a stuning nut encircling said cable and being in threaded engagement with said gland member and projecting into said cavity to compress said gasket material contained therein.

PHILLIPS N. BOSWORTH.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,762,510 Edmonds June 10, 1930 1,943,799 Mahan Jan. 16, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 533,372 Great Britain Feb. 12, 1941 

